Curtiss C-46 Commando?

[OleBoy]

I jest recently heard of this model. I had no clue of it till just the other day when SOH member Franzi brought it to my attention while reading the BananaBob thread in the FSX forum. I had to investigate. After finding the thread over at calclassic.com I commenced reading. Man, were they swapping information back and forth while developing it. It reminded me of many projects happening here.
....By the time I got to the end of the thread I noticed the last post date. 2007. I started searching for it and found it. What an impressive plane that thing must be in real life.

They did a nice job as far as they got with it for release. My question is, have they (Tom Gibson, Libardo Guzman & Greg Pepper) or anyone else done anymore to update it since? I got a hunch I just set myself up for a lashing..lol.

FS2004/FSX Curtiss C-46 Commando

http://www.flightsim.com/m/c46ga.gif
[ Download | View ]

Name: c46ga.zip Size: 26,768,596 Date: 03-23-2007 Downloads: 10,259
FS2004/FSX Curtiss C-46 Commando. Gmax version 1. Liveries include Flying Tiger, Aerocondor, Aeronotre, Everts Air Fule and USAAF. Also includes bare metal livery to allow for repaints. Includes multiple 2D panel bitmaps and choice of VC with pilot, copilot or no crew. By Libardo Guzman, Greg Pepper and Tom Gibson. (See also C46GAFIX.ZIP) http://www.flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=110871

[Jagdflieger]

yes, Libardo Guzman posted an update for it. Here are the details from the readme file:

Reworked files contain:
-Original crew restored.
-Original main landing gear restored and reworked based on many pictures.
-PANEL.CFG was rewritten: New forward view into cockpit will show runway while taxing using -ZOOM (-50 or less).
-VIRTUAL VIEWS around exterior from different windows as passenger location, to enjoy wings, flaps, etc: apply zoom also, if you want to have a complete view.

The file is named: c46gafix.zip

I really enjoy flying this plane about the Northwest and around the CBI theater of WWII.

[Volker Böhme]

Hi,

< deleted, see post above >

Best regards,
Volker

[OleBoy]

senility starts setting in..lol. :173go1::redf:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=38606&highlight=curtis+c-46


I got the fix installed. I was really hoping for more than that because this is such a neat plane!!

[Willy]

There's a bunch of excellant repaints out there for it too. I don't fly it near often enough.

[Sunny9850]

The only thing "missing" a tad bit on the C-46 is a better clarity VC. At least for those of us who insist that this is the only way to fly :D

FDE and even damage effects are available and make flying the largest of the US Taildraggers a nice past time.
Having worked a bit on "China Doll" the CAF 46 at Camarillo I also got to talk with her chief pilot and got his personal handling "notes" which include such interesting details as that throttle steering is not only used during ground ops but in the air as well when the big whale needs to be turned tightly.

Stefan

[OleBoy]

The VC is actually my main hopes that was fixed as I fly from there also. I was reading the thread at calclassics forum. Tom mentioned that the bitmap was out of focus (or something to that affect) that's why it was blurry. Sure would be nice if it could be corrected cause I'd spend some time in it that's for sure. As it stands now I won't be.

[Sunny9850]

The "problem" with the VC is as I understand/remember it that the size of the panel in the model is relatively small but then gets "stretched" to what you see in FS.
The only way to fix that would be a new VC model. Just playing with the bitmap and gauges can only get you so far. Our own Wild Bill Kelsohas done some of that...but only to the extent possible with the bitmaps.

Stefan

[OleBoy]

I see. Now that you mention it, Wild Bill did a Buffalo paint for this didn't he? Yeah he did. Now it's coming back to me. I recall a lengthy post related

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Yep - fiddling with VC is far beyond my abilities, so I did a new 2D instead:

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/wildbillkelso_berlin/C-FAVO/c46panel1610.jpg

FS2004 (ACOF) - FS2004 Panels FS2004 Curtiss C-46 Commando Panel
[ Download (http://flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=146811) | View (http://flightsim.com/zview.php?cm=list&fid=146811) ]
Name: panel_commando.zip (http://flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=146811) Size: 5,786,661 Date: 05-28-2010 Downloads: 839
http://flightsim.com/p/panel_commando.gif FS2004 Curtiss C-46 Commando Panel. A new 2D panel for Calclassic's Curtiss C46 Commando. The VC remains unaltered. This panel isn't intended to represent a certain C-46's panel. It tries to create a layout of an aircraft operating today with some upgraded avionics and makes extensive use of Calclassic's DC-6 gauges (included), created by Ken Mitchell and Tom Gibson. Different panel bitmaps for 4:3 and 16:10 widescreen aspect ratio included. By Markus Hellwig.



And these are the Buffalo repaints:

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/wildbillkelso_berlin/c46buff7.jpg

FS2004 (ACOF) - FS2004 Propliners FS2004 Buffalo Airways C-46 Commando
[ Download (http://flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=140139) | View (http://flightsim.com/zview.php?cm=list&fid=140139) ]
Name: buffgtxw.zip (http://flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=140139) Size: 3,359,854 Date: 10-19-2009 Downloads: 1,121
http://flightsim.com/o/buffgtxw.gif FS2004 Buffalo Airways C-46 Commando, registration C-GTXW. Repaint for Calclassic's Curtiss CW-20 (C46) "Commando", depicting the Buffalo Airways C-GTXW. Buffalo Airways is a family run charter and scheduled airline based in Hay River, Northwest Territories. It was established in 1970 and operates scheduled passenger services and cargo and passenger charter services, as well as firefighting and fuel services. These are texture files only. By Markus Hellwig.



http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/wildbillkelso_berlin/C-FAVO/favo1.jpg

FS2004 (ACOF) - FS2004 Propliners FS2004 Buffalo Airways C-46 Commando
[ Download (http://flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=146810) | View (http://flightsim.com/zview.php?cm=list&fid=146810) ]
Name: buffalo_favo.zip (http://flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=146810) Size: 3,666,856 Date: 05-28-2010 Downloads: 859
http://flightsim.com/p/buffalo_favo.gif FS2004 Buffalo Airways C-46 Commando. Repaint for Calclassic's Curtiss CW-20 (C-46) "Commando", depicting the Buffalo Airways C-FAVO in her current appearance. Compared to the earlier repaint by Manuele Villa (46GA_BUF.ZIP (http://flightsim.com/file.php?cm=SEARCH1&fsec=0&fname=46GA_BUF.ZIP)), C-FAVO looks a little different now, as seen on the TV show "Ice Pilots NWT". Completely new repaint from scratch to get her today's appearance. Major differences to the former outfit are: registration letters on the tail section, underwing paint and company lettering, cargo door frame paint, new shiny ice shield panels. These are texture files only. Prior installation Curtiss CW-20 Commando base pack is required. By Markus Hellwig.


Enjoy!

Cheers,
Markus.

[andersel]

You’re too right, OleBoy. This is a great plane. I have it installed with Libardo’s update, Wild Bill Kelso’s 2D panel U/G and Gary Jones’ 2nd generation R-2800 sounds. LOTS of paints out there. I fly a lot up here in “The Last Frontier”, so I am preferential to Todd Disrud’s Everts Air Cargo scheme and Wild Bill's C-fAVO. The only thing I find “interesting” about the model is that, at least on mine, the cargo doors will not close fully if the cowl flaps are anything other than 100% closed. In any case, a wonderful plane. LA

[Milton Shupe]

The issue with the VC clarity is this.

Panels in these larger aircraft are 3 times wider than a fighter aircraft.

There are three panel sections in the cockpit and each should have a 1024 texture for gauge clarity. Because the whole width of the panel is squeezed down to one 1024, the gauges also had to be shrunk from their larger sizes (as used in the default DC-3). Drop the shrunken gauges on a small bmp and you loose clarity.

It's a simple model fix to split the panel sections and remap them each to a 1024. Once done, then you would redo the Vcockpit section to reposition the gauges across three Vcockpit entries.

It would take probably 3-4 hours to do this work by the modeler and panel builder.

[fliger747]

About a year ago I was complimenting Cliff Everts on the paint job on his C-46 (it's a great looking plane IRL) and in typical Cliffie manner said: "Ought ta be, cost $85,000 dollars!".

Cheers: T

[tgibson]

Hi,

Funny you should mention this...

While it's on the low burner for now (my collaborator has gone missing, hopefully only for a short while), there is an improved C-46 coming along.

http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy125/CalClassic/c46_vc1.jpg

This is an early picture (things have changed a bit since then), but there is a new higher clarity VC (at least the main panel has increased clarity; the overhead panel is still a bit blurry). It also has an improved system of opening doors (the doors aren't changed, but the keys to open them are). It will also have improved flight dynamics, along with FD versions for the USAF (with vintage panel), South America, and US Civil (the latter only has low blower).

No release date, but hopefully in the next couple of months.

Hope this helps,

[HighGround22]

. . . Hope this helps,

Oh, yes indeedy-do, it helps! Bolsters the spirits, it does!

Thanks for the HU, Tom.

[Sunny9850]

Tom that looks splendid already. If you need more detailed panel pictures I may have some more from China Doll....if not I can probably get them easily on my next visit to get Tri Tip Lunch at KCMA.

Stefan

[OleBoy]

This is good news. And nice to know the team still has interest

[PeteHam]

Hi,

Hope this helps,


Oh yeah :jump: :jump: :jump:

Looking forward to this Tom.

:ernae:

Pete.

[stewpot]

I fly the C46 in Buffalo livery on the Yellowknife to Hay River run- as per that excellent TV series 'Ice Pilots NWT' which has already been mentioned in this thread.

The programme is shown on TV here in the UK as well as Canada.

Is it available in the US yet ?

A DVD is now available on the Ice Pilots website, but is only formatted for players available in Canada/USA as far as I'm aware.

If you get a chance check this series out - absolutely superb with some great flying sequences.

Several episodes record the ferry flight of two Buffalo CL215 water bombers to Turkey- worth the purchase price just to watch that again IMO !:jump:

Regards...Stuart

[Moses03]

Thanks for the news Tom. Looking forward to the updated C-46.

[Maarten -]

Hi Tom,

That's great news! I love to fly the C-46 as she is already! I'm looking forward to the new version with greed. :jump:

Cheers,
Maarten

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Great news indeed, Tom! :jump:

Very much looking forward to it - although the Whale in its current (and quite aged) appearance has a certain kind of character: Not despite of its minor flaws but just because of them... :wiggle:

Cheers,
Markus.

[tgibson]

Don't worry Markus, it will still have plenty of those... :)

[taocat]

Any update on that VC yet?

[SSI01]

Looking forward with anticipation to this release. This is an OUTSTANDING aircraft and an absolute JOY to fly! Big, solid, slow to turn so you've got to plan your moves ahead of time. The only drawback I saw isn't in the model at all - in real life, apparently, the R-2600s in this aircraft must have overheated quickly on the ground so taxiing and mag checks prior to takeoff are something that need to be handled carefully, watch the CHT closely. It's not a complaint, really, just an observation about the aircraft.

[Sunny9850]

Any update on that VC yet?

I am fairly certain it was included in this V2 update on Tom's site

http://www.calclassic.com/commando.htm

Cheers
Stefan